Shanghai Gongqing Forest Park. [Photo/xinmin.cn]

The newly revised "Shanghai Forest Management Regulations", aimed at providing legal guarantees for safeguarding the city's green ecological foundation and promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, will take effect on May 1.

According to the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, the key revisions are summarized into six aspects:

1. To strengthen and enhance the "forest chief" mechanism, and establish an accountability system that mandates government leaders at the municipal, county, and township levels to take responsibility for greenery projects, ecological restoration, and forest protection.

2. To expand the area for afforestation and improve its quality.

3. To enhance the management of public welfare forests, elevating their quality and functions.

4. To enforce strict regulations in land use, occupation, and logging to preserve existing resources.

5. To boost the capabilities for fire prevention and the control of harmful organisms, thereby ensuring the safety of the forests.

6. To emphasize the role of assessment and inspection, intensifying supervision.

An official from the city's greenery authority stated that in the upcoming phase, the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau will carry out supporting tasks to prepare for the implementation of the regulations.

Sources: eastday.com, xinmin.cn